I had a fish strike tonight on a big, walk the dog style topwater lure. I don't know if the fish missed the lure or if I didn't react quick enough. I've had this happen countless times on topwaters and am curious to know if I'm doing something wrong. I lost sight of the lure as the fish went back under but never felt it so I never attempted to set the hook. I was reluctant to set the hook when it was in the air thinking that I could pull it out of it's mouth before it really had a hold of it. I've got a million more questions but I'll leave it at that for now.
Johnny - I've had the same problem in the past. I was working a jackpot last year when a big fish came all the way out of the water, shot the lure a good 4 feet airborne and cartwheeled back into the water. I figured it would come back and slam it again. I worked the bait faster trying to intice another strike but it never happened. I think the topwater lures generate more missed strikes than a typical "swim" lure. But it sure get the heart pumping...
Especially with Jackpot-style lures, the fish will try to suck the bait in by opening their mouth and flaring the gills. I have had them do this as many as 7 times in a single cast before they have finally got it in their mouth and I got the hooks into them. The hardest part is to 'just keep going' and 'don't break the rythm' until you feel the fish eat the bait. I know, it take a lot of patience and fortitude but eventually you will be able to do it.
Then again, sometimes the Jackpot gets them to move when they don't want to and they will hit it with their mouth closed. Brett Erickson
I'd make a couple more casts with the same bait or switch up to a sub-surface bait. For me, a good change-up to a Jackpot has been a 8" Tiger Tube. However, chances are that if the fish expended that much energy it most likely won't come back and eat unless the conditions are perfect and the fish are very active. I would make a couple more casts and then leave and come back during a major, moonrise/moonset, at dark or if there is approaching weather. Brett Erickson
Thanks, I'll keep that all in mind if I ever see another fish. I've been out almost every day since that topwater action and haven't seen a single one.
We moved a lot of fish last week on topwaters, but we had to go slow to get them to react. Jackpots caught them. Lost one on a Hawg Wobbler. Had 3 up on a B.S.Willy Creeper and had 6 to 8 aggressively chasing/pushing water/popping at Magnum Stompers--but no solid takers. Mid-lake water temps were around 65 up in Canada so the fish should really start going after topwaters in about a week. Brett Erickson
I rarely use topwater baits because I've seen my partners miss so many short strikers on them. In fact, I've never once seen a musky landed on a topwater lure - seen hundreds of misses and the heartbreak that it causes. A tip from Jim Saric: Bend the treble hooks in a T formation, the two hooks that end up touching the belly of the bait. Bend them outward causing them to extend the tips of the hooks beyond the body of the lure. Should help to increase hookups. Saw it on a musky hunter DVD. I hope this helps you land more strikers. Good luck.
Originally posted by Lee Smith: I rarely use topwater baits because I've seen my partners miss so many short strikers on them. In fact, I've never once seen a musky landed on a topwater lure - seen hundreds of misses and the heartbreak that it causes. A tip from Jim Saric: Bend the treble hooks in a T formation, the two hooks that end up touching the belly of the bait. Bend them outward causing them to extend the tips of the hooks beyond the body of the lure. Should help to increase hookups. Saw it on a musky hunter DVD. I hope this helps you land more strikers. Good luck.
Lee, thanks for the reply. I spent a lot of time teaching myself to use topwaters over the last year or so and it's been paying off pretty well. I still get the occasional strike that misses completely but I'm hooking many more than I'm losing. I fish from shore in ridiculously shallow water so topwaters are almost always the best bet for me.
Here's a little 40 incher I got on Thursday with a Dunright Top Dancer.
Nice fish, Johnny. I'm glad the topwater lures work for you. I have many friends who swear by them. I had to try em out again this weekend as we were spotting many muskies hanging out just below the surface of the water after dark, yet wanted nothing to do with the baits I usually offer. Throwing the baby loon was a little different look for them and definitely gave a much needed break to my hand and arms. Got some nice follows but, no strikers. I'll be at it again after work today. Good luck, Johnny.
To tell ya the truth, Johnny - my luck has been pretty awfull lately. I know how those entire days with no fish go. Haven't boated a ski yet this season. Seeing many, many nice fish. Been out on Tonka, Eagle, White Bear, Sugar, Bald Eagle and Forrest. In total pry 25 "trips" so far with at least 4 hours of casting. Day and night. I hate metro lakes!!! Can't wait to start geting up to Mille Lacs again - I've had some good seasons up there. Heading out to Tonka again after work today. I started a post - you're welcome to hop in @ the launch with me and see if we can't hook into some luck out there!
Originally posted by Lee Smith: To tell ya the truth, Johnny - my luck has been pretty awfull lately. I know how those entire days with no fish go. Haven't boated a ski yet this season. Seeing many, many nice fish. Been out on Tonka, Eagle, White Bear, Sugar, Bald Eagle and Forrest. In total pry 25 "trips" so far with at least 4 hours of casting. Day and night. I hate metro lakes!!! Can't wait to start geting up to Mille Lacs again - I've had some good seasons up there. Heading out to Tonka again after work today. I started a post - you're welcome to hop in @ the launch with me and see if we can't hook into some luck out there!
Lee, what post are you referring to?
I fished for 9 hours today and didn't see anything. Yesterday was a different story. I had a fish strike and miss at the end of a retrieve just a few feet from shore. I got excited and yelled something about it to a friend (I should no better than that). I was sure that I spooked that fish so I didn't bother casting to the same spot again. I bombed my second cast a quarter mile in a different direction and missed a second fish. The first Muskie was still there waiting on my third cast and I got him. The fourth cast landed a northern about 12 pounds and the 5th cast missed another Muskie. That one came right back and took my buddies (who was bass fishing) jitterbug. His first Muskie ever and now he's hooked. Even though I only caught one Muskie, that was the most action I've ever seen in so few casts. It was enough to fuel me to fish all night but we had to pack it up because of a nasty storm.
Tonka Hot Spots was the thread. Nice fish, Johnny. Looks like you're having a fantastic season so far. I fished Tonka for six hours again last night. Can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong - I've been trying everything - casting and trolling. Fast, slow, big, small, deep, shallow, rocks, weeds. Nothing but follows. Spending all my time and money chasing muskies. So, I'm grounded until I get paid again. Hope to hit Mille Lacs this weekend. Pretty sad season so far for me. Hope it picks up one of these days. Keep it up man - you've got your system down.
